A triple net lease (NNN) is a lease agreement between a landlord and a tenant or lessee on a property where the tenant agrees to pay property expenses including real estate taxes, building insurance, and maintenance fees. These expenses are in addition to rent and utility expenses. In most cases, the cost of utilities is dependent on tenant usage.
A gross lease is the standard lease used by landlords where the tenant pays a predetermined amount of rent each month and the landlord takes on operational expenses. In a net lease, one or more of these operational expenses is paid by the tenant or lessee. A triple net lease means the tenant pays all expenses.
Most triple net leases are long-term leases lasting for 10 or more years, and these agreements generally include concessions for rent increases. Here’s what tenants can expect to pay as far as utilities and other operational expenses and how that’s calculated.
The three major expenses included in a triple net lease are:
Tenants in a triple net lease agreement must pay utility expenses that keep the property running. This includes electricity, water, gas, sewage, trash and recycling, cable, phone, and internet. Major repairs to utilities may fall under the responsibility of the landlord, but this depends on the lease agreement. In an absolute triple net lease, the tenant carries additional potential risk and assumes all financial responsibilities of the property, including the structure and the roof.
If utilities are metered, they are typically not included in the tenant’s rent and are paid separately. These charges are based on usage and are variable depending on the square footage of the building, consumption, fluctuations in the market, and the individual utility companies. The landlord may establish a building usage standard, which is their calculation based on the cost of each utility per square foot. Tenants are charged depending on the amount of space being rented and usage.
Don’t forget to factor in the cost of utilities for day-to-day operations on the property. Similar to residential utility expenses, these prices can change with the season and the time of day.
Before committing to this lease structure, be aware of all tenant and landlord responsibilities and the associated costs. Considering this is a 10-year commitment, tenants need to make sure that a triple net lease agreement is going to be a cost-effective option and won’t end up being more expensive than expected.